NIMS FAQ

Jacksonville State University Police Department (JSUPD) manages JSU's NIMS compliance, coordinates on-campus training sessions and maintains NIMS training records. Many questions about the NIMS program can be answered with these Frequently Asked Questions, but if you have additional questions, please call JSUPD at 256-782-8888 or email Melonie Carmichael at mcarmich@jsu.edu.

What is NIMS?
National Incident Management System (NIMS) establishes a single, comprehensive approach to domestic incident management to ensure that all levels of government across the nation have the capability to work efficiently and effectively together using a national approach to domestic incident management. NIMS provides a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state and local governments to work together to prepare for, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of the cause, size or complexity. Those agencies that do not establish such system shall not be eligible for state reimbursement for any response or recovery related expenses.

Effective November 1, 2007, Jacksonville State University (JSU) adopted the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as established under a Presidential Directive and the State of Alabama's Executive Order Number 24 as its system of preparing for and responding to disaster incidents and directs all incident managers and response organizations within Jacksonville State University to train and exercise and use these systems in their response operations.

Why does Jacksonville State University need the NIMS program?
Because the State of Alabama Executive Order Number 24 states that all local public safety and emergency response organizations shall implement the standardized unified incident command system.

Who needs NIMS training?
The JSU NIMS Policy requires that all JSU personnel who routinely respond to campus emergencies or those who directly or indirectly make incident management decisions regarding building level or campus wide emergencies participate in NIMS training. The following campus personnel will receive NIMS training according to their appropriate training level as defined in the JSU NIMS Training Profile:

Administrators at the department head level or above

Building Managers

Campus Emergency Operations Team

Campus emergency responders (JSU Police)

All others not specifically identified who are tasked with building emergency planning, safety or security assignments

This policy includes the main Jacksonville campus personnel and Extended Campus personnel at JSU McClellan. The JSU NIMS Training Profile highlights the specific level of training that each identified JSU campus representative is required to achieve.

Who coordinates the NIMS program?
The University Police Department manages JSU's National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance and coordinates on-campus training sessions.

What is the benefit of JSU complying with NIMS?
JSU must demonstrate the use of NIMS and Incident Command System (ICS) principles during all emergency responses whether the incidents are large or small for consistency purposes. Should JSU encounter a large scale disaster where the total damages meet federal reimbursement funding thresholds, the acceptance of NIMS principles must be demonstrated through training records and in JSU emergency plans in order to receive federal disaster assistance funds. In addition, JSU emergency responders must show NIMS compliance when applying for any state and federal public safety, homeland security and emergency management grant funding.

How will I know when NIMS training classes are scheduled?
NIMS training class schedules, along with registration links, will be posted on the University Police Department's web site http://www.jsu.edu/police/as they become available. Notification of upcoming classes will also be emailed to Building Managers.

How do I register for a NIMS training class?
Registration links will be available from the University Police Department's web site http://www.jsu.edu/police/homepage, along with details about the class.

Is there any cost for NIMS training?
No. Training and training materials is provided at no cost to the participant.

Do I get a certificate for completing NIMS training?
Yes, certificates will be generated from the training course and should be emailed to JSU's Office of Human Resources promptly upon receipt of the certificate. JSUPD will also maintain all NIMS certificates received from the JSU Office of Human Resources for training records.

Are any NIMS training offered on-line?
Yes, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers on-line courses for ICS 100.HE, ICS 200, IS 700.a and IS 800B. These courses are available on the FEMA Emergency Management Institute Web site: http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp

Does JSU have a NIMS policy?
Yes, The JSU 2010 NIMS POLICY requires that all JSU personnel who routinely respond to campus emergencies or those who directly or indirectly make incident management decisions regarding building level or campus wide emergencies participate in NIMS training. The following campus personnel will receive NIMS training according to their appropriate training level as defined in the JSU NIMS Training Profile:

Administrators at the department head level or above

Building Managers

Campus Executive Management Team (EMT)

Campus Emergency Operations Teams (EOT)

Campus emergency responders (JSU Police Department)

All others not specifically identified who are tasked with building emergency planning, safety or security assignment

This policy includes the main Jacksonville campus personnel and extended campus personnel at JSU McClellan. The JSU NIMS Training Profile highlights the specific level of training that each identified JSU campus representative is required to achieve. For procedures and other inquiries related to JSU NIMS compliance, contact JSU Police Department.

I received NIMS training at another institution or earlier than JSU's adoption of NIMS in November 1, 2007. How will JSU recognize my past training in NIMS?
All JSU employees who have taken NIMS training classes and received a certificate prior to November 1, 2007 should send copies of those certificate(s) to the Director of Human Resources to allow JSU to maintain accurate training records. This will allow the Office of Human Resources the ability to provide state or federal auditors access to campus NIMS training levels and numbers should JSU be audited or need to produce training documentation after a disaster.

What is the NIMS Training Profile?
JSU Police Department provides a training profile to aid in selecting the National Incident Management System (NIMS) training appropriate for the various departments and divisions at Jacksonville State University. The training profile sheet lists JSU Departments/Divisions, the personnel in those areas to be trained and the appropriate training level suggested. Download the 2010 NIMS Training Profile(.pdf) here.

What is the NIMS Training Plan?
The Jacksonville State University's 2010 NIMS Training Plan.pdf was created to formalize JSUPD's approach to address NIMS compliance in a consistent manner on campus. Furthermore, the plan will provide details on how JSUPD will notify, train and maintain the records of the thousands of identified campus personnel who will need NIMS training in support of our campus compliance efforts.

This NIMS Training Plan is a campus-level plan intended to identify appropriate JSU personnel on the Jacksonville State University's main campus and its extended campuses (JSU at McClellan) who are required to participate in NIMS training courses.

The plan is a fluid document and will be updated on yearly basis or when appropriate guidance is provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the State of Alabama or local government that necessitates changes or additions to the plan.

The main objective of the JSU NIMS Training Plan is to provide details on the Jacksonville State University's approach to promote NIMS compliance on campus. As a result campus personnel have been identified that are required to complete predetermined NIMS training levels. Additional long-term campus NIMS objectives are consistent with local and state agency NIMS objectives.

Is the NIMS Training Plan, Policy and Training Profile available online?
Yes. NIMS information is available for downloading in .pdf format:

How is NIMS training documented and who maintains the training records?
Certificates will be generated from the training course and should be emailed to the Office of Human Resources promptly upon receipt of the certificate. JSUPD will also maintain a NIMS training database that identifies each individual's level of training as well as what courses they have taken.

Who do I contact if I have questions about NIMS?
JSUPD manages JSU's National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance and coordinates on-campus training sessions. You may contact Elizabeth Morrow, JSU's Police Department Emergency Management Specialist by phone (256) 782-8888, fax (256) 782-5286 or e-mail emorrow@jsu.edu.